Method and device for determining the value of a delay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending a second dataset

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining the value of a delay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending a second dataset, the data being representative of a sequence of coded images, the datasets consisting of data subsets, the coded images being coded according to a first level of resolution and at least a second level of resolution higher than the first level of resolution, the data subsets containing data of a first level of resolution. According to the invention:
         first and second datasets are obtained (E 506 ); and   the value of the delay is determined (E 507 ), the value of the delay being dependent on the number of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsets of the first dataset which contain data of the second or of a second level of resolution.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/674,415,filed Feb. 19, 2010 (allowed), which is a §371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2008/064478, filed Oct. 24, 2008.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the value of adelay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending a seconddataset.

In video stream transmission systems, it is necessary for a video serverto time the sending of the data to a receiving device so that thereceiving terminal has the data at the moment when they have to bedecoded or reproduced.

If the video server sends the data well before they have to be produced,the receiving device must have a large memory in order to store the databefore they are reproduced.

The MPEG-4 ISO file format dedicated to SVC delivers temporalinformation helping to determine the moments when the data must be sent.This file format is currently in the process of being standardized:“ISO/IEC 14496-15/FPDAM 2 (SVC File Format)”, D. Singer, M. Z. Visharam,Y. K. Wang and T. Rathgen, MPEG-4/Systems, MPEG document number N9283.

When the file format does not deliver temporal information, it isdifficult to time the sending of the data.

In addition, new coding formats allow image sequences to be codedaccording to various levels of resolution. This is for example the casefor the coding format called SVC coding and described in the document byT. Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien, “ScalableVideo Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint VideoTeam (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007.Document JVT-W201.

These various levels of resolution make the timing for sending datacomplicated.

The object of the invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior artby proposing a method and a device that are capable of determining atwhat instant the data of a video sequence coded according to variouslevels of resolution must be sent, without the coding format for thecoded video sequence necessarily including time stamps for timing thesending of the data.

For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes amethod for determining the value of a delay to be applied betweensending a first dataset and sending a second dataset, the data beingrepresentative of a sequence of coded images, the datasets consisting ofdata subsets, the coded images being coded according to a first level ofresolution and at least a second level of resolution higher than thefirst level of resolution, the data subsets containing data of a levelof resolution, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

-   -   obtaining the first and second datasets; and    -   determining the value of the delay, the value of the delay being        dependent on the number of decoded images that can be formed        from the data subsets of the first dataset which contain data of        the second or of a second level of resolution.

Correspondingly, the present invention relates to a device fordetermining the value of a delay to be applied between sending a firstdataset and sending a second dataset, the data being representative of asequence of coded images, the datasets consisting of data subsets, thecoded images being coded according to a first level of resolution and atleast a second level of resolution higher than the first level ofresolution, the data subsets containing data of a first level ofresolution, characterized in that the device comprises:

-   -   means for obtaining the first and second datasets; and    -   means for determining the value of the delay, the value of the        delay being dependent on the number of decoded images that can        be formed from the data subsets of the first dataset which        contain data of the second or of a second level of resolution.

Thus, it is possible to determine at what instant the datasets of asequence of coded images must be sent without the coding format for thesequence of coded images including time stamps that allow the sending ofthe data to be timed.

In addition, since the value of the delay is dependent on the number ofimages decoded, it is possible to time the transmission of the datasetsfor a sequence of images coded according to several levels ofresolution.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the value ofthe delay is dependent on the number of decoded images that can beformed from the data subsets of the first dataset which contain data ofthe first level of resolution.

Thus, it is possible to determine at what instant the datasets of asequence of images coded according to various levels of resolution mustbe sent without the coding format for the sequence of coded imagesincluding time stamps that allow the sending of the data to be timed.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the value ofthe delay is furthermore dependent on the maximum rate of reproductionof the decoded images on a display means.

Thus, since the timing for sending the datasets is matched to the rateof reproduction of the decoded images, the device that receives thedatasets does not necessarily have to have a large memory allocated tostoring the data.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the levels ofresolution are levels of spatial or quality resolution and in that thevalue of the delay is dependent on the number of decoded images that canbe formed from the data subsets of the first dataset which contain dataof the second or of a second level of spatial or quality resolution.

Thus, it is possible to determine at what instant the datasets of asequence of images coded according to various levels of resolution mustbe sent without the coding format for the sequence of coded imagesincluding time stamps that allow the sending of the data to be timed.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the datasubsets of each dataset are ordered and the value of the delay is aminimum if the first data subset included in the second datasetcontributes to the formation of the same decoded image as the first datasubset included in the first dataset.

Thus, when various datasets contain data which contribute to theformation of the same decoded image, the receiver of the datasetsrapidly has available the dataset needed to form the decoded image.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the device fordetermining the value of a delay to be applied between sending a firstdataset and sending a second dataset:

-   -   detects each data subset of the first dataset containing data        contributing to the formation of an image for which the previous        data subsets do not contribute to the formation; and    -   for each data subset detected, increments the value of a counter        associated with the level of resolution of the data contained in        the subset detected, and the value of the delay is dependent on        the number of decoded images that can be formed from the subsets        of the first dataset which contain data of the level of        resolution of which the associated counter has the maximum        value.

Thus, the present invention is simple to implement.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the sequence ofcoded images is decomposed into first and second groups of coded images,the first and second datasets containing data representative of thefirst group of coded images, and the device for determining the value ofa delay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending asecond dataset:

-   -   obtains a third dataset; and    -   if the data contained in the third dataset are representative of        the first group of images, determines the value of the delay to        be applied between sending the second dataset and sending the        third dataset or, if the data contained in the third dataset are        representative of the second group of images, determines the        value of the delay to be applied between sending the first        dataset and sending the third dataset.

Thus, the present invention is particularly well suited to video codingformats in which the images are coded by groups of images.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the sequence ofcoded images is furthermore coded according to a first level of temporalresolution and at least one second level of temporal resolution higherthan the first level of temporal resolution and, if the data containedin the third dataset are representative of the second group of images,the value of the delay to be applied between sending the first datasetand sending the third dataset is a function of the first level oftemporal resolution.

Thus, the present invention is suitable for situations in which thelevels of resolution are modified between two groups of transferredimages.

The invention also relates to a computer program stored on aninformation medium, said program containing instructions forimplementing the method described above, when said program is loadedinto and executed by a data processing system.

The abovementioned features of the invention, as well as others, willbecome more clearly apparent on reading the following description of anexemplary embodiment, said description being given in relation to theappended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication system in which the present inventionis implemented;

FIG. 2 shows a device for determining a delay to be applied between thesending of two datasets according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the order in which the images of a coded image sequence aredisplayed at the receiving device;

FIG. 4 shows the order in which the images of a coded image sequence aretransmitted by a video server;

FIG. 5 shows an algorithm for transmitting datasets according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 shows an algorithm for determining a delay to be applied betweenthe sending of two datasets according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of datasets made up respectively ofat least one data subset and of image counters used by the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show an algorithm for determining a delay to beapplied between the sending of two datasets according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication system in which the present inventionis implemented.

In FIG. 1, a video server 10 transmits data to a receiving device 20 viaa telecommunication network 50. The telecommunication network 50 is forexample an 802.11a or b or g wireless network or an Ethernet network, oran Internet network. The video server 10 transmits consecutive datasetswith a delay determined by a device 100 for determining a delay to beapplied between the sending of two datasets.

The device 100 for determining a delay to be applied between the sendingof two datasets is preferably included in the video server 10. Thereceiving device 20 is a customer 20 of the video server 10. In analternative embodiment, the device 100 for determining a delay to beapplied between the sending of two datasets is separate from the videoserver 10.

Upon receiving a request transmitted by the receiving device 20 anddeduced from an operation of the user of the receiving device 20, thedevice 100 for determining a delay to be applied between the sending oftwo datasets determines the parameters for extracting at least oneportion of a video sequence to be transmitted.

The request is for example a request in accordance with the RTSPprotocol, RTSP standing for real-time streaming protocol.

The video sequence is for example a video sequence coded according tothe coding method as proposed in the document by T. Wiegand, G.Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien, “Scalable VideoCoding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint Video Team(JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007.Document JVT-W201.

The video sequence coded according to this method takes the form of abinary stream called hereafter SVC bitstream.

According to the invention, the device 100 for determining a delay to beapplied between the sending of two datasets extracts data subsetscorresponding to the request, encapsulates the data subsets in datasets,determines the delay to be applied between transferring each dataset,and sends the datasets to the receiving device 20 according to thedelays determined.

In the case of SVC coding, a data subset is called an NAL, the acronymfor network abstract layer. An NAL is the elementary element of the SVCbitstream.

An NAL includes a header and a field comprising either coding parametersfor the coded video sequence or data representative of an image of thecoded video sequence, or data representative of a portion of an image ofthe coded video sequence.

An NAL is different from data of the MPEG 4 type in that it does notcontain meta-data within the MPEG4 file format dedicated to containingSVC video streams, as described in the document “ISO/IEC 14496-15/FPDAM2 (SVC File Format)” D. Singer, M. Z. Visharam, Y. K. Wang and T.Rathgen, MPEG-4/Systems, MPEG document number N9283.

In the case of SVC coding, a dataset is a set containing at least oneNAL. The size, in terms of number of bytes, of each dataset is adjustedso that it is smaller than a predetermined value. This predeterminedvalue is for example a function of a quantity representative of thetelecommunication network 50. This quantity is for example the MTU(maximum transfer unit) size, which is defined as the maximum size of apacket before fractionation of said packet by the devices making up thetelecommunication network 50.

The datasets are preferably transferred in packet form according to theRTP protocol, RTP standing for real-time transport protocol.

The SVC coding provides a video representation with coding over levelsof resolution, or scalable coding, according to a quality dimension, atemporal dimension and a spatial dimension.

A level of quality resolution corresponds to a given quality, forexample obtained from a data quantization step.

The lowest level of quality resolution corresponds to the lowest qualityand the highest level of quality resolution corresponds to the highestquality.

A level of spatial resolution corresponds to a given number of pixelsreproduced after decoding.

The lowest level of spatial resolution corresponds to the smallestnumber of pixels reproduced after decoding, while the highest level ofspatial resolution corresponds to the largest number of pixelsreproduced after decoding.

A level of temporal resolution corresponds to a given number of decodedimages reproduced per second.

The lowest level of temporal resolution corresponds to the smallestnumber of decoded images reproduced per second, while the highest levelof temporal resolution corresponds to the largest number of decodedimages reproduced per second. A given level of temporal resolutiongreater than 0 is formed by interleaving images at time instants locatedbetween those of the images of the lower level of temporal resolution.

An SVC bitstream, i.e. SVC-coded video, includes a base layer or lowestlevel of resolution compatible with the H.264 format, above which one ormore refinement layers or higher levels of resolution may be codedaccording to one of the three dimensions.

These refinement layers correspond to levels of quality or temporal orspatial resolution.

FIG. 2 shows a device for determining a delay to be applied between thesending of two datasets according to the present invention.

The device 100 for determining a delay to be applied between the sendingof two datasets is for example a computer comprising a communication bus201 to which the following are connected: a central processing unit CPU200; a read-only memory ROM 202; a random-access memory RAM 203; ascreen 204; a keyboard 205; a network interface 206 for interfacing withthe telecommunication network 50; a hard disk HD 208; and a CDread/write device 209 for reading and writing data on a removablemedium.

It should be pointed out here that, as a variant, the device 100 fordetermining a delay to be applied between the sending of two datasetsconsists of one or more dedicated integrated circuits capable ofimplementing the method as described with reference to FIG. 6 or toFIGS. 8 a and 8 b. These integrated circuits are for example, but notlimitingly, integrated into a video sequence acquisition apparatus orvideo server 10.

The read-only memory ROM 202 stores inter alia the program forimplementing the method of the invention, which will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 6 or to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b.

More generally, the program according to the present invention is storedin a storage means. This storage means can be read by a computer or amicroprocessor 200. This storage means may or may not be integrated intothe device 100 for determining a delay to be applied between the sendingof two datasets, and may be removable.

When the device 100 for determining a delay to be applied between thesending of two datasets is turned on, or when the software fordetermining a delay to be applied between the sending of two datasets isstarted, the program according to the present invention is transferredfrom the read-only memory ROM 202 to the active-memory RAM 203 whichthen contains the executable code of the invention and also the dataneeded to implement the invention.

The device 100 for determining a delay to be applied between the sendingof two datasets also includes a screen 204.

The network interface 206 allows requests from the receiving device 20to be received via the telecommunication network 50.

The network interface 206 allows the datasets to be transmitted via thetelecommunication network 50 to the receiving device 20.

The hard disk 208 stores the datasets to be transmitted. The hard disk208 also stores, as a variant, the program for implementing theinvention, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6 or toFIGS. 8 a and 8 b.

The reader/writer 209 for reading/writing data on a removable memorymeans is for example a compact disc reader/writer. The datareader/writer 209 is capable of reading the program according to thepresent invention in order to transfer it onto the hard disk 208. Thedata reader/writer 209 is also capable of reading the datasets to betransferred according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows the order in which a sequence of coded images is displayedat the receiving device.

In FIG. 3, two levels of spatial or quality resolution, namely a level 0and a level 1, are shown.

The spatial or quality level of resolution 0, also called the baselevel, represents a sequence of coded images with its lowest level ofspatial or quality resolution and is compressed so as to be compatiblewith the H264/AVC standard as described in the document by G. Sullivan,T. Wiegand and A. Luthra entitled “Text of ISO/IEC 14496 10 AdvancedVideo Coding 3rd Edition”, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11, Redmond, Wash.,USA, July 2004.

The level of spatial or quality resolution 0 is made up of images oftype I, P and B. The B images are denoted by B(ti,l0). An image B(ti,l0)is temporally predicted from the anchoring images I(t0,l0) or P(t0,l0)surrounding it, and also from the images B(tj,l0) where j<i, which arelocated within the same interval of anchoring images I(t0,l0) orP(t0,l0). The level of spatial or quality resolution 0 thus consists ofthe images I(t0,l0), B(t2,l0), B(t1,l0), B(t2,l0) and P(t0,l0) where l0represents the level of spatial or quality resolution 0 and tirepresents the level of temporal resolution, with i=0 to 2.

The level of spatial or quality resolution 1 is a level of spatial orquality resolution higher than the level of spatial or qualityresolution 0. The level of spatial or quality resolution 1 is codedpredictively with respect to the level of spatial or quality resolution0. In particular in the case of a level of spatial resolution 1, aspatial oversampling step takes place during these predictions betweenlevels of resolution, this step also being called inter-layerprediction. The level of spatial or quality resolution 1 thus consistsof the images I(t0,l1), B(t2,l1), B(t1,l1), B(t2,l1) and P(t0,l1) wherel1 represents the level of spatial or quality resolution 1 and tirepresents the level of temporal resolution, with i=0 to 3. The level ofspatial or quality resolution 1 furthermore includes the images of thelevel of temporal resolution 3, which are denoted by B(t3,l1).

The arrows denoted by 31 to 38 represent the order in which thissequence of coded images is displayed by the receiving device 20.

FIG. 4 shows the order in which the images of a sequence of coded imagesis transmitted by a video server.

FIG. 4 shows the images of a group of images, conventionally called aGOP (group of pictures), of an SVC coded image sequence.

The SVC coded image sequence contains two levels of spatial or qualityresolution, namely level 0 and level 1. The coded image sequence isidentical to that shown in FIG. 3.

As already mentioned above with reference to FIG. 3, an image is denotedby its type, its level of temporal resolution and its level of spatialor quality resolution to which it belongs.

Thus, B^(k)(t2,l1) represents an image of type B, with a level oftemporal resolution 2 and belonging to the level of spatial or qualityresolution 1, in which k is an index that identifies the images of thesame level of spatial or quality resolution.

The order in which the images of a GOP are transmitted appears withinthe level of spatial or quality resolution 0 and/or within the level ofspatial or quality resolution 1.

This order is a function of the dependencies that exist between theimages of a GOP of a coded image sequence that are such that the orderof the images in the image sequence before coding is different from theorder in which the images must be decoded in order to restore the imagesequence in its reconstructed version.

According to the invention, the order in which the data subsets aretransmitted corresponds to the order in which the transmitted datasubsets are decoded. In addition, in order for an image to be decoded,it is necessary for all the data subsets for predicting the data of theimage to be received and decoded beforehand.

Thus, the images of the coded image sequence are transmitted in thefollowing order: I⁰(t0,l0), I⁰(t0,l1), P¹(t0,l0), P¹(t0,l1), B²(t1,l0),B²(t1,l1), B³(t2,l0), B³(t2,l1), B⁴(t2,l0), B⁴(t2,l1), B⁵(t3,l1),B⁶(t3,l1), B⁷(t3,l1) and B⁸(t3,l1).

In FIG. 4, each circle containing a number indicates the order oftransmission of the image.

It should be pointed out here that the conventional time stamp presentin the headers of the RTP packets does not reflect the order oftransmission of the images according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an algorithm for transmitting datasets according to thepresent invention.

This algorithm is executed by the processor 200 of the device 100 fordetermining a delay to be applied between the sending of two datasets.

In step E500, the processor 200 detects the reception, via the networkinterface 50, of an RTSP request transmitted by the customer device 20.

In the next step E501, the processor 200 determines what the requestedsequence of coded images is.

In the next step E502, the processor 200 determines the level of spatialand/or quality resolution and the temporal resolution requested in theRTSP request.

In the next step E503, the processor 200 is positioned at the start ofthe SVC bitstream corresponding to the coded image sequence determined.

In the next step E504, the processor 200 sets the image counters to thevalue zero. An image counter is associated with each level of spatial orquality resolution that is below or equal to the level corresponding tothe RTSP request.

In the next step E505, the processor 200 extracts the data subsets orNALs from the SVC bitstream which correspond to the RTSP request.

In the next step E506, the processor 200 forms datasets containing thedata subsets. The size of the datasets is adjusted so that it is below apredetermined value. This predetermined value is for example the MTUsize.

In the next step E507, the processor 200 determines the value of thedelay to be applied between the sending of two consecutive datasets.This step will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 6or with reference to FIGS. 8 a and 8 b.

In the next step E508, the processor 200 forms RTP packets from thedatasets. These packets are in accordance with those described in theIETF document “RTP Payload Format for SVCvideo—draft-ietf-avt-rtp-svc-01.txt”.

In the next step E509, the processor 200 transfers the packets formedfrom the datasets while respecting the delays determined.

In the next step E510, the processor 200 checks whether other datasubassemblies are to be transferred.

If other data subsets are to be transferred, the processor 200 returnsto step E505. If all the data subsets corresponding to the requestreceived at step E500 have been transferred, the processor 200 stops thepresent algorithm and returns to step E500, awaiting a new RTSP request.

It should be pointed out here that this algorithm is interrupted when anew request is received from the same receiving device 20, which newrequest causes the processing of the current request to be interrupted.Such an interruption occurs for example when an RTSP pause or stoprequest is received by the video server 10 relating to the previouslyrequested coded image sequence.

FIG. 6 shows an algorithm for determining a delay to be applied betweenthe sending of two datasets according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

The algorithm of FIG. 6 describes in greater detail steps E505 and E506of the algorithm of FIG. 5.

In step E600, the processor 200 sets the size of the dataset beingformed to the value zero.

In the next step E601, the processor 200 extracts the data subsetlocated at the current position in the SVC bitstream being processed,i.e. the coded image sequence being processed.

In the next step E602, the processor 200 checks whether the datasetbeing formed is non-zero and whether the sum of the size of the datasetbeing formed and the size of the extracted data subset is strictlygreater than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is forexample the MTU parameter of the telecommunication network 50.

If the dataset being formed is non-zero and if the sum of the size ofthe dataset being formed and the size of the extracted data subset isstrictly greater than the predetermined value, it is not possible to addthe extracted data subset to the dataset being formed. The processor 200interrupts the algorithm of FIG. 6 and returns to step E507 of FIG. 5.

If the sum of the size of the dataset being formed and the size of theextracted data subset is equal to or less than the predetermined value,or if the dataset being formed is empty, the processor 200 passes tostep E603.

In step E603, the processor 200 analyses the header of the extracteddata subset. When the data subset is an elementary element of an SVCbitstream, the processor 200, in step E604, checks whether the headerindicates an SEI (supplemental enhancement information) message andwhether the SEI message contained in the subset corresponds to what iscalled the scalability information SEI message in the document by T.Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien, “ScalableVideo Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint VideoTeam (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007.

If the subset contains a scalability information SEI message, theprocessor 200 passes to step E605. Otherwise, the processor 200 passesto step E606.

In step E605, the processor 200 decodes the scalability information SEImessage intended to describe the organization of the coded imagesequence requested.

The scalability information SEI message contains inter alia informationindicating the frequencies of images of each level of spatial or qualityresolution contained in the coded image sequence requested by thereceiving device 20 or, in other words, the levels of temporalresolution contained in the coded image sequence requested.

The decoding of this message provides a table of image frequency valuesfor each level li of spatial or quality resolution, denoted byframerate[li].

In step E606, the processor 200 checks whether the extracted data subsetcontains data of a level of resolution that contributes to the formationof a new image during decoding of the coded image sequence.

If the extracted data subset contains data of a level of resolution thatcontributes to the formation of a new image during decoding of the codedimage sequence, the processor 200 passes to step E607. Otherwise, theprocessor 200 passes to step E608.

In other words, the processor 200 detects whether the extracted datasubset contains data contributing to the formation of an image for whichthe previous extracted data subsets did not contribute to the formation.

When the data subset is an elementary element of an SVC bitstream, theprocessor 200 verifies:

-   -   if the data subset does not contain sequence parameters, or a        sequence parameter set; and    -   if the data subset does not contain image parameters or a        picture parameter set; and    -   if the data subset does not contain an SEI message supplying        information about the next data subset in the bitstream; and    -   if the data subset is different from the scalability information        SEI message; and    -   if the type of data subset is different from the “prefix NAL        unit”; and    -   if the quality index of the data subset is equal to zero.

The abovementioned parameters and messages are described in the documentby T. Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien,“Scalable Video Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”,Joint Video Team (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif.,April 2007.

In step E607, the processor 200 increments the value of a counterCpt_im(li) associated with the level of spatial or quality resolution liof the data contained in the extracted data subset.

In step E608, the processor 200 checks whether the extracted data subsetcontains data of one of the levels of resolution required by thereceiving device 20.

If the extracted data subset does not contain data of one of the levelsof resolution required by the receiving device 20, the processor 200passes to step E613. Otherwise, the processor 200 passes to step E609.

In step E609, the processor 200 inserts the extracted data subset intothe dataset being formed, and then passes to step E610.

In step E610, the processor 200 checks whether the previously inserteddata subset is the first data subset inserted into the dataset.

If the previously inserted data subset is not the first data subsetinserted into the dataset, the processor 200 passes to step E613.

If the previously inserted data subset is the first data subset insertedinto the dataset, the processor 200 passes to step E611.

In step E611, the processor 200 determines the value of the delay to beapplied between the instant of transferring the previously formeddataset and the dataset being formed.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is dependent on thenumber of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsetscontained in the previously formed dataset which contain data of thelevel of resolution or a level of resolution higher than the lowestlevel of resolution.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is dependent on thenumber of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsetscontained in the previously formed dataset which contain data of thelowest level of resolution.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is furthermoredependent on the maximum rate of reproduction of the decoded images on adisplay means.

According to the invention, the data subsets of each dataset are orderedand the value of the delay is a minimum if the first data subsetincluded in the dataset being formed contributes to the formation of thesame decoded image as the first data subset contained in the previouslyformed dataset.

The value is a minimum when the second dataset is transferred as rapidlyas possible after the end of transfer of the first data subset.

To do this, the delay is calculated according to the following equation:

${Delay} = \frac{{\max\left\{ {{currentCpt\_ im}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}} - {\max\left\{ {{previousCpt\_ im}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}}}{\max\left\{ {{framerate}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}}$in which max{currentCpt_im[li]} is the maximum value of the imagecounters Cpt_im[li] of each level of resolution li of the dataset beingformed, max{previousCpt_im[li]} is the maximum value of the imagecounters Cpt_im[li] of each level of resolution li, the value of whichis taken at the first data subset of the previously formed dataset, andmax{framerate[li]} is the maximum frame rate for images having thelevels of spatial or quality resolution that are required by thecustomer.

The instant of sending is equal to the sum of the delay and of theinstant of sending the previous dataset.

In the next step E612, the processor 200 stores the calculated instantof sending as being the previous instant of sending.

In the next step E613, the processor 200 checks whether the entire videostream has been processed. If the entire video stream has beenprocessed, the processor 200 stops the present algorithm. Otherwise, theprocessor 200 returns to step E601.

FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of datasets made up respectively ofat least one data subset and also the image counters used by the presentinvention.

Row 720 shows a first dataset made up of a data subset NAL⁰I⁰(t0,l0) andthe values of the image counters denoted by Cpt_im(l0) and Cpt_im(l1)for each level of spatial or quality resolution. The data subsetNAL⁰I⁰(t0,l0) contains the data of the image I⁰(t0,l0) of FIG. 4.

Rows 722 and 724 show a second dataset made up of data subsetsNAL⁰I⁰(t0,l1) and NAL¹I⁰(t0,l1) together with the values of the imagecounters Cpt_im(l0) and Cpt_im(l1). The data subsets NAL⁰I⁰(t0,l1) andNAL¹I⁰(t0,l1) contain the data of the image I⁰(t0,l1) of FIG. 4.

The presence in an SVC bitstream of several NALs containing data of thesame image occurs for example when it is decided to cut this image upinto several slices during coding of this image.

One slice consists of a subset of successive macroblocks of themacroblocks of a coded image (see the document by T. Wiegand, G.Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien, “Scalable VideoCoding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint Video Team(JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007).

Row 726 shows a third dataset made up of a data subset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l0) andthe values of the image counters Cpt_im(l0) and Cpt_im(l1). The datasubset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l0) contains the data of the image P¹(t0,l0) of FIG. 4.

Rows 728 and 730 show a fourth dataset made up of data subsetsNAL⁰P¹(t0,l1) and NAL⁰B²(t0,l0) and also the values of the imagecounters Cpt_im(l0) and Cpt_im(l1). The data subsets NAL⁰P¹(t0,l1) andNAL⁰B²(t0,l0) contain the data of the images P¹(t0,l1) and B²(t0,l0) ofFIG. 4, respectively.

Column 710 contains the indices of the abovementioned data subsets,column 712 contains the various values taken by the counter Cpt_im(l0),column 714 contains the various values taken by the counter Cpt_im(l1)and column 715 contains the various multiplicative factors of theinverse of the maximum frame rate for images having the levels ofspatial or quality resolution that are required by the customer andcalculated for determining the delays according to the presentinvention.

During formation of the first dataset, the counter Cpt_im(l0) isincremented since the image I⁰(t0,l0) has level of resolution 0.

During formation of the second dataset, the counter Cpt_im(l1) isincremented by one unit, since the data subset NAL⁰I⁰(t0,l1) is thefirst data subset containing data of the image I⁰(t0,l1) of the level ofresolution 1. The counter Cpt_im(l1) is not incremented by one unit asecond time since the data subset NAL¹I⁰(t0,l1) is not the first datasubset containing the data of image I⁰(t0,l1).

The value of the delay between transmitting the first and seconddatasets is zero since the data subset NAL⁰I⁰(t0,l1) contained withinthe second dataset contributes to the formation of the same decodedimage I⁰ as the data subset NAL⁰I⁰(t0,l0) contained in the firstdataset. This is because the maximum values of the counters taken ateach first data subset contained in the first and second datasets areidentical. The multiplicative factor of the inverse of the maximum framerate for images having the levels of spatial or quality resolution thatare required by the customer is thus zero.

During formation of the third dataset, the counter Cpt_im(l0) isincremented by one unit, since the data subset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l0) is thefirst data subset containing data of the image P¹(t0,l0) having level ofresolution 0.

The value of the delay between transmitting the second and thirddatasets is dependent on the number of decoded images that can be formedfrom the subsets of the second dataset which contain the data of one ofthe levels of resolution, in this case level of resolution 0. Themultiplicative factor of the maximum frame rate for images having thelevels of spatial or quality resolution that are required by thecustomer is thus equal to the unit.

During formation of the fourth dataset, the counter Cpt_im(l1) isincremented by one unit, since the data subset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l1) is thefirst data subset containing data of the image P¹(t0,l1) having level ofresolution 1. The counter Cpt_im(l0) is incremented by one unit sincethe data subset NAL⁰B²(t0,l0) is the first data subset containing thedata of image B²(t0,l0).

The value of the delay between transmitting the third and fourthdatasets is zero since the data subset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l1) contained in thefourth dataset contributes to the formation of the same decoded image P¹as the data subset NAL⁰P¹(t0,l0) contained in the first dataset. This isbecause the maximum values of the counters taken at each first datasubset, contained in the first and second datasets, are identical. Themultiplicative factor of the maximum frame rate for images having thelevels of spatial or quality resolution that are required by thecustomer is thus zero.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show an algorithm for determining a delay to beapplied between the sending of two datasets according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

The algorithm of FIGS. 8 a and 8 b describes in greater detail stepsE505 to E506 of the algorithm of FIG. 5 according to the secondembodiment.

The algorithm of FIGS. 8 a and 8 b is particularly useful when theparameters for extracting the coded image sequence vary during thetransmission process.

This is for example the case when the receiving device 20, following auser operation, modifies the parameters of the coded image sequencerequired, or when the various levels of resolution are used for thepurpose of regulating the bit rate of the video server 10. In the lattercase, it is necessary to determine, for each GOP of the SVC bitstream,the data subsets that allow the corresponding bit rate to comply withthe required bandwidth.

The extraction parameters, such as the level of spatial and/or qualityresolution and/or the level of temporal resolution, can vary over thecourse of transmitting the coded image sequence.

In step E800, the processor 200 sets the size of the dataset beingformed to the value zero.

In the next step E801, the processor 200 extracts the data subsetlocated at the current position in the datastream being processed, i.e.the coded image sequence being processed.

In the next step E802, the processor 200 checks whether the datasetbeing formed is non-zero and whether the sum of the size of the datasetbeing formed and the size of the extracted data subset is strictlygreater than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is forexample the MTU parameter of the telecommunication network 50.

If all the data being formed is non-zero and if the sum of the size ofthe dataset being formed and the size of the extracted data subset isstrictly greater than the predetermined value, it is not possible to addthe extracted data subset to the dataset being formed. The processor 200interrupts the algorithm of FIG. 8 and returns to step E507 of FIG. 5.

If the sum of the size of the dataset being formed and the size of theextracted data subset is equal to or less than the predetermined value,or if the dataset being formed is empty, the processor 200 passes tostep E803.

In step E803, the processor 200 analyses the header of the extracteddata subset. When the data subset is an elementary element of an SVCbitstream, the processor 200, in step E804, determines whether theheader indicates an SEI (supplemental enhancement information) messageand whether the SEI message contained in the subset corresponds to whatis called the scalability information SEI message in the document by T.Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz and M. Wien, “ScalableVideo Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint VideoTeam (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007.

If the data subset contains a scalability information SEI message, theprocessor 200 passes to step E805. Otherwise, the processor 200 passesto step E806.

In step E805, the processor 200 decodes the scalability information SEImessage intended to describe the organization of the coded imagesequence requested.

The scalability information SEI message contains inter alia informationindicating the frequencies of images of each level of spatial or qualityresolution contained in the coded image sequence requested by thereceiving device 20 or, in other words, the levels of temporalresolution contained in the coded image sequence requested.

The decoding of this message provides a table of values of frame ratesfor each level li of spatial or quality resolution, denoted byframerate[li].

In the next step E806, the processor 200 checks whether the extracteddata subset belongs to a new group of images GOP. The processor 200checks whether the extracted data subset belongs to a new group ofimages GOP by checking whether the data subset contains data of level oftemporal resolution 0 and has a quality index equal to 0.

If the extracted data subset does not belong to a new group of imagesGOP, the processor 200 passes to step E809. Otherwise, the processor 200passes to step E807.

In step E807, the processor 200 updates the data subset extractionparameters. In other words, the processor 200 determines the level ofspatial and/or quality resolution and the temporal resolution requestedin the first RTSP request received.

In the next step E808, the processor 200 determines which data subsetshave to be extracted from the new group of images GOP as a function ofthe new extraction parameters or, in the case of regulation of the bitrate output by the video server 10, the processor 200 analyses theheaders of the data subsets present in the new GOP and determines thedata subsets which will produce, during reproduction or decoding, thevideo image sequence of best quality under the current bit rateconstraint.

When the data subsets are NAL elementary units, the processor 200analyses the “priority_id” fields present in the headers of the NALs andsuch as those described in Sections G.7.3.1 and G.7.4.1 of the documentby T. Wiegand, “Scalable Video Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC Amendment(revision 2)”, Joint Video Team (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG & ITU-T VCEG, SanJose, Calif., April 2007.

In step E809, the processor 200 checks whether the extracted data subsetcontains data of a level of resolution that contributes to the formationof a new image during decoding of the coded image sequence.

If the extracted data subset contains data of a level of resolution thatcontributes to the formation of a new image during decoding of the codedimage sequence, the processor 200 passes to step E810. Otherwise, theprocessor 200 passes to step E811.

In other words, the processor 200 detects whether the extracted datasubset contains data contributing to the formation of an image for whichthe previous extracted data subsets did not contribute to the formation.

When the data subset is an elementary element of an SVC bitstream, theprocessor 200 verifies:

-   -   if the header of the data subset does not contain a sequence        parameter set; and    -   if the data subset does not contain a picture parameter set; and    -   if the data subset does not contain an SEI message supplying        information about the next data subset in the bitstream; and    -   if the data subset is different from the scalability information        SEI message; and    -   if the type of data subset is different from the “prefix NAL        unit”; and    -   if the quality index of the data subset is equal to zero. The        abovementioned parameters and messages are described in the        document by T. Wiegand, G. Sullivan, J. Reichel, H. Schwarz        and M. Wien, “Scalable Video Coding—Joint Draft 10 of SVC        Amendment (revision 2)”, Joint Video Team (JVT) of ISO/IEC MPEG        & ITU-T VCEG, San Jose, Calif., April 2007.

In step E810, the processor 200 increments the value of a counterCpt_im(li) associated with the level of spatial or quality resolution liof the data contained in the extracted data subset.

In step E811, the processor 200 checks whether the extracted data subsetbelongs to the set of levels of resolution that are required by thereceiving device 20.

If the extracted data subset does not belong to the set of levels ofresolution required by the receiving device 20, the processor 200 passesto step E816. Otherwise, the processor 200 passes to step E812.

In step E812, the processor 200 inserts the extracted data subset intothe dataset being formed, and then passes to step E813.

In step E813, the processor 200 checks whether the previously inserteddata subset is the first data subset inserted into the dataset orwhether the extracted data subset belongs to a new group of images GOP.

If the previously inserted data subset is not the first data subsetinserted into the dataset and does not belong to a new group of imagesGOP, the processor 200 passes to step E816.

If the previously inserted data subset is the first data subset insertedinto the dataset or if the extracted data subset belongs to a new groupof images GOP, the processor 200 passes to step E814.

In step E814, the processor 200 determines the value of the delay to beapplied between the instant of transfer of the previously formed datasetand the dataset being formed.

This step will be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 8b.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is dependent on thenumber of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsetscontained in the previously formed dataset which contain data of thelevel of resolution or a level of resolution higher than the lowestlevel of resolution.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is dependent on thenumber of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsetscontained in the previously formed dataset which contain data of thelowest level of resolution.

According to the invention, the value of the delay is furthermoredependent on the maximum rate of reproduction of the decoded images on adisplay means.

According to the invention, the data subsets of each dataset are orderedand the value of the delay is a minimum if the first data subsetincluded in the dataset being formed contributes to the formation of thesame decoded image as the first data subset contained in the previouslyformed dataset.

According to the invention, when the coded image sequence is decomposedinto first and second GOPs, at least first and second datasets havepreviously been formed, the first and second datasets contain datarepresentative of the first group of coded images and, if the datacontained in the dataset being formed are representative of the firstgroup of images, the value of the delay to be applied between sendingthe second dataset and sending the dataset being formed is determined,or, if the data contained in the dataset being formed are representativeof the second group of images, the value of the delay to be appliedbetween sending the first dataset and sending the dataset being formedis determined.

According to the invention, the coded image sequence is furthermorecoded according to a first level of temporal resolution and at least asecond level of temporal resolution higher than the first level oftemporal resolution, and if the data contained in the dataset beingformed are representative of the second group of images, the value ofthe delay to be applied between sending the first dataset and sendingthe dataset being formed is a function of the first level of temporalresolution.

In step E815, the processor 200 stores the calculated instant of sendingas being the previous instant of sending.

In the next step E816, the processor 200 checks whether the entire videostream has been processed. If the entire video stream has beenprocessed, the processor 200 stops the present algorithm. Otherwise, theprocessor 200 returns to step E801.

In step E820 of FIG. 8 b, the processor 200 checks whether the extracteddata subset belongs to a new group of images GOP and whether the counterCpt_im_t0[li] is equal to or greater than 2. The counter Cpt_im_t0[li]counts the number of images of temporal resolution 0 counted in theextracted NAL data subsets.

If the extracted data subset belongs to a new group of images GOP and ifthe counter Cpt_im_t0[li] is equal to or greater than 2, the processor200 passes to step E823.

If the extracted data subset does not belong to a new group of imagesGOP or if the counter Cpt_im_t0[li] is less than 2, the processor 200passes to step E821.

In step E821, the processor 200 calculates the delay according to thefollowing equation:

${Delay} = \frac{{\max\left\{ {{currentCpt\_ im}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}} - {\max\left\{ {{previousCpt\_ im}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}}}{\max\left\{ {{framerate}\lbrack{li}\rbrack} \right\}}$in which max{currentCpt_im[li]} is the maximum value of the imagecounters Cpt_im[li] of each level of resolution li of the dataset beingformed, max{previousCpt_im[li]} is the maximum value of the imagecounters Cpt_im[li] of each level of resolution the value of which istaken at the first data subset of the previously formed dataset, andmax{framerate[li]} is the maximum frame rate for images having thelevels of spatial or quality resolution that are required by thecustomer.

In the next step E822, the processor 200 checks whether the extracteddata subset belongs to a new group of images GOP.

If the extracted data subset belongs to a new group of images GOP, theprocessor 200 passes to step E824. Otherwise, the processor 200 passesto step E825.

In step E823, the processor 200 calculates the delay according to thefollowing equation:

${Delay} = \frac{1}{{frameratet}\;{10\lbrack{li}\rbrack}}$in which frameratetl0[li] is the frequency of the image of the lowestlevel of temporal resolution.

The instant of sending is equal to the sum of the delay and of theinstant of sending of the previous dataset which contained a data subsetof the lowest level of temporal resolution.

Having carried out this operation, the processor 200 passes to stepE824.

In step E824, the processor 200 stores the calculated instant of sendingas being the instant of sending the previous dataset that contained adata subset of the lowest level of temporal resolution.

Having carried out this operation, the processor 200 passes to the nextstep E825.

In the next step E825, the processor 200 increments the counterCpt_im_t0[li] by one unit.

Having carried out this operation, the processor 200 returns to stepE816 of the algorithm of FIG. 8 a.

Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodimentsdescribed here, rather it encompasses, quite to the contrary, anyvariant within the competence of a person skilled in the art and inparticular the combination of various embodiments of the presentinvention.

In an alternative embodiment, the delay calculation of step E823 wouldbe activated only when a NAL from the H.264/AVC compliant base layer isencountered. More precisely, in this embodiment the test in step E820 ofFIG. 8 b is modified. In the modified test E820, the processor 200checks whether the extracted data subset belongs to a new group ofimages GOP, whether the counter Cpt_im_t0[li] is equal to or greaterthan 2, and whether the resolution li of the considered NAL is equal tozero. If the extracted data subset belongs to a new group of images GOPand if the counter Cpt_im_t0[li] is equal to or greater than 2 and ifthe resolution li is equal to zero, the processor 200 passes to stepE823. This last embodiment is particularly adapted to cases where thenumber of transmitted SVC layers would evolve during the videotransmission session.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method implemented by a device fordetermining a value of a delay to be applied between sending a firstdataset and sending a second dataset, from a sender device to a receiverdevice over a network, the method comprising: obtaining the first andsecond datasets, the first and second datasets containing datacorresponding to data subsets, which data is representative of asequence of coded images, the coded images being coded according to afirst level of resolution and at least a second level of resolutionhigher than the first level of resolution, the data subsets containingdata of a single level of resolution; and determining the value of thedelay to be applied between sending of the first and second datasets,from the sender device to the receiver device over the network, thevalue of the delay being dependent on a number of decoded images thatcan be formed from the data subsets of the first dataset, which datasubsets contain data of the second level of resolution, wherein thevalue of the delay between sending of the first and second datasets,from the sender device to the receiver device over the network, is aminimum if the first data subset included in the second datasetcontributes to formation of a same decoded image as the first datasubset included in the first dataset.
 2. The method according to claim1, wherein the value of the delay is dependent on the number of decodedimages that can be formed from the data subsets of the first datasetwhich contain data of the first level of resolution.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the value of the delay is furthermoredependent on a maximum rate of reproduction of the decoded images on adisplay means.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first andsecond levels of resolution are levels of spatial or quality resolutionand in that the value of the delay is dependent on the number of decodedimages that can be formed from the data subsets of the first datasetwhich contain data of the second level of spatial or quality resolution.5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting eachdata subset of the first dataset containing data contributing to theformation of an image for which previous data subsets do not contributeto the formation; and for each data subset detected, incrementing avalue of a counter associated with the level of resolution of the datacontained in the subset detected, and wherein the value of the delay isdependent on the number of decoded images that can be formed from thesubsets of the first dataset which contain data of the level ofresolution of which the associated counter has the maximum value.
 6. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the sequence of coded images isdecomposed into a first group and a second group of coded images, thefirst and second datasets containing data representative of the firstgroup of coded images, and the method further comprises: obtaining athird set of representative data; and if the data contained in the thirddataset are representative of the first group of images, determining thevalue of the delay to be applied between sending the second dataset andsending the third dataset or, if the data contained in the third datasetare representative of the second group of images, determining the valueof the delay to be applied between sending the first dataset and sendingthe third dataset.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein thesequence of coded images is furthermore coded according to a first levelof temporal resolution and at least one second level of temporalresolution higher than the first level of temporal resolution and, ifthe data contained in the third dataset are representative of the secondgroup of images, the value of the delay to be applied between sendingthe first dataset and sending the third dataset is a function of thefirst level of temporal resolution.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein the datasets are obtained so as to contain a quantity of databelow a predetermined threshold.
 9. A device for determining a value ofa delay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending asecond dataset, from a sender device to a receiver device over anetwork, wherein the device comprises: means for obtaining the first andsecond datasets, the first and second datasets containing datacorresponding to data subsets, which data is representative of asequence of coded images, the coded images being coded according to afirst level of resolution and at least a second level of resolutionhigher than the first level of resolution, the data subsets containingdata of a single level of resolution; and means for determining thevalue of the delay to be applied between sending of the first and seconddatasets, from the sender device to the receiver device over thenetwork, the value of the delay being dependent on a number of decodedimages that can be formed from the data subsets of the first datasetwhich data subsets contain data of the second level of resolution,wherein the value of the delay between sending of the first and seconddatasets, from the sender device to the receiver device over thenetwork, is a minimum if the first data subset included in the seconddataset contributes to formation of a same decoded image as the firstdata subset included in the first dataset.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer-readable information medium storing a program, which, when itis loaded into and executed by a computer or a processor in a device,allows the device to implement a method for determining a value of adelay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending a seconddataset, from a sender device to a receiver device over a network, themethod comprising: obtaining the first and second datasets, the firstand second datasets containing data corresponding to data subsets, whichdata is representative of a sequence of coded images, the coded imagesbeing coded according to a first level of resolution and at least asecond level of resolution higher than the first level of resolution,the data subsets containing data of a single level of resolution; anddetermining the value of the delay to be applied between sending of thefirst and second datasets, from the sender device to the receiver deviceover the network, the value of the delay, the value of the delay beingdependent on a number of decoded images that can be formed from the datasubsets of the first dataset, which data subsets contain data of thesecond level of resolution, wherein the value of the delay betweensending of the first and second datasets, from the sender device to thereceiver device over the network, is a minimum if the first data subsetincluded in the second dataset contributes to formation of a samedecoded image as the first data subset included in the first dataset.11. A device for determining a value of a delay to be applied betweensending a first dataset and sending a second dataset, from a senderdevice to a receiver device over a network, wherein the device includesat least one processor configured to: obtain the first and seconddatasets, the first and second datasets containing data corresponding todata subsets, which data is representative of a sequence of codedimages, the coded images being coded according to a first level ofresolution and at least a second level of resolution higher than thefirst level of resolution, the data subsets containing data of a singlelevel of resolution; and determine the value of the delay to be appliedbetween sending of the first and second datasets, from the sender deviceto the receiver device over the network, the value of the delay, thevalue of the delay being dependent on a number of decoded images thatcan be formed from the data subsets of the first dataset, which containdata of the second level of resolution, wherein the value of the delaybetween sending of the first and second datasets, from the sender deviceto the receiver device over the network, is a minimum if the first datasubset included in the second dataset contributes to formation of a samedecoded image as the first data subset included in the first dataset.